Hawaii’s Kids Reconnect with Japanese Kids in Tohoku
Eight youth from Hawaii ages 13-18 visited northern Japan from July 11-17, 2013 on the TOMODACHI Rainbow for Japan Kids project and reconnected with Japanese kids who visited Hawaii.
Japan-American Society of Hawaii (JASH) partnered with the TOMODACHI Initiative to bring Japanese children directly affected by the March 11, 2011 disaster to Hawaii for rest, recuperation, and physical/psychological relief since July 2011. A major goal of this project is to create lasting friendships with Hawaii’s kids through camp stays and outdoor activities surrounded by Hawaii’s natural beauty.
This is the first time JASH sent kids from Hawaii to Japan. Over five days, Hawaii’s kids attended a reunion with the Japanese kids at a sports
camp near Sendai, visited a school in Onagawa City which sent kids to Hawaii, and engaged in a volunteer activity helping to clear an ocean-side park of weeds and trash to make it useable again.
Brock Honda, one of the participants, spoke about his experience, saying “I just can’t get over how positive the kids I saw were despite all that they have been through. It makes me want to be more positive in everything I do.” Brock’s comments were reflective of those from other participants. They also expressed a desire to be more caring for others and that their experiences made them more self confident.
- For more information on this program, click here
Photos
This program is funded by TOMODACHI’s Fund for Exchanges through generous contributions from Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Hitachi, Ltd.
